As it is warmer today and the sun is shining, I thought I would take a longer walk and opted to start along Upper Street, despite the crowds I knew I would find there.

Monument to Sir Hugh Myddelton

I started with a visit to the monument to Sir Hugh Myddelton, instigator of the New River, at Islington Green.

Islington Green

There were plenty of people on the green, some on benches, others sitting on the grass. A typical spring day in the park, one might say.

Islington War Memorial

I took a photo of the Islington War Memorial from the street, for a change of view. From whichever angle you view it, it is a most unusual design for the purpose.

Not the Collins Music Hall

While I was there, I took this not very good photo of the 1897 façade (modified since) behind which stood the premises of Collins Music Hall. The hall burnt down in 1958 and everything behind the façade today is modern. The memory of Collins and his music hall, however, lingers on.

Screen on the Green

Nearby is another famous place of entertainment, extant this one. It is the cinema called Screen on the Green which opened in 1913 and has run continuously ever since.

St Mary’s Church

My next port of call was St Mary’s Church or, rather, the church garden, the church itself being closed and undergoing building works. The church has a long history but much of it was destroyed by bombs in WWII, though the spire survived.

St Mary’s Church Garden

As is the case with most churches in the metropolis, what was originally the burial ground is now a public garden. It contains a number of impressively large old trees and is, all in all, a very pleasant spot on a sunny day.

Old tomb

As is usual, while the smaller gravestones have been uprooted and stacked around the perimeter, a few of the larger tombs have been left in place, like this one. I don’t know how old it is because the inscription has all but eroded away. Missing also are the iron railings that once surrounded it and whose traces remain. I don’t know whether they were stolen by metal thieves or taken for armaments during WWII as were most iron railings and gates.

Squirrel

Almost inevitably, my path was crossed by a squirrel. Sensibly, he didn’t waste time on me but ascended into a tree.

Old Post Office

Opposite the church stands this impressive early 20th-century building that was once our main post office. It fronted an extensive site containing sorting and parcels offices. It has been replaced by a smaller modern shop-front post office and the site here has been redeveloped.

Caryatids

I like these four Classical- style caryatids, seemingly supporting the balcony above them. They add a focal point to the the design of the façade.

Waterloo House

I usually photograph this handsome building which I believe is called Waterloo House, though I know nothing about it.

Waterloo Terrace

Beside the building, I spied a street called Waterloo Terrace and, as I had never walked up it before, I decided to do so now.

Battishill Street Gardens

It wasn’t too much of a surprise when it led me to Battishill Street Gardens. Now, I’n sure you remember what notable artwork is to be found here. As I was here, I went to visit it.

Frieze by Musgrave Watson 1842

It is a frieze sculpted by Musgrave Watson in 1842. More about it and how it came to be here is set out in my post Visiting Musgrave Watson’s sculpture. Battishill Street, incidentally, is named after British composer Jonathan Battishill (1738-1801).

Moon Street

Continuing on, I found another street that was new to me, Moon Street, and entered it. Further on, it makes a right-angled turn to the left which led me into Almeida Street, where the post office’s parcels office used to be. I entered the precinct there and found myself on a broad roadway, part of the redevelopment of the old post office site.

Esther Anne Place

This new road is apparently called Esther Anne Place (no, I don’t know who Esther Anne is, either). It had a new, unlived-in feel to it, almost like a film set.

Back on Upper Street

I eventually emerged once more onto the familiar territory of Upper Street.

Business Design Centre

By now, I was looking forward to sitting down with a nice cup of tea (lockdowns have played havoc with my stamina) and so taking the shortest route home seemed best. I decided to go along beside the Business Design Centre into the Angel Centre opposite Sainsbury’s.

Entering the Angel Centre

I mentioned the Angel Centre and the building work going on in it in a previous post. Unlike then, the decorative lights were not lit today and it was looking dowdy. I hurried on through.

The Angel Wings

I passed by the famous Angel’s Wings into Liverpool Road and thence into Chapel Market.

Chapel Market

Unlike Exmouth Market yesterday, Chapel Market did have some stalls open. I did not tarry, though, but continued on and was soon at home. And yes, I did make myself a cup if tea!

I have often said that I don’t know the names of plants and trees. So Tigger had bought me a present:

Trees

It is a little book for recognising trees. There are lots a pictures to help ignoramuses like me and the book is small – less than 8.5cm by 12cm – so it can be stowed in my handbag. My arboreal education starts here!